Fr. Peter J. Scagnelli

Named publicly as credibly accused by the Diocese on its list 7/1/2019. Removed from ministry 1/1/1994. Died 7/12/2017. Included in the 3/4/2026 RI Attorney General’s Report, which shows Scagnelli to be the subject of allegations of the sexual abuse of six boys and two young men 1977-1994. He also allegedly groomed a teenage boy in 2000. The alleged abuse included forced oral sex and rape. One man reported that in 1979 or 1980 he told a friend that Scagnelli had abused him. His friend told his father, who brought the alleged victim and his mother and aunt to the rectory, where they confronted Scagnelli. He said another priest was present. The friend’s father threatened to go to the bishop if Scagnelli wasn’t gone in 30 days. The alleged victim said his family was forced to move away after they were threatened with excommunication for reporting Scagnelli. Per the Diocese, the first complaint was received in 1993. Scagnelli was sent in 1994 to the Institute of Living in Hartford CT for a psychiatric evaluation. Despite his suspension in 1994, the Diocese was notified multiple times 2000-2004 that Scagnelli was saying mass in MA. The Diocese contacted the Vatican in 2004, requesting  Scagnelli’s laicization; it did not send further documentation when requested by the Vatican in 2005. The Vatican contacted the Diocese in 2013 requesting the documents. Some were sent. The process was ended in 2016 because Scagnelli was terminally ill. None of the cases could be prosecuted, due to the statute of limitations. Per the A.G., one of them could have been prosecuted had the Diocese reported his allegations to law enforcement. The accuser in that case received a settlement in 2005.